Board Name: Shinobi Legends
Board URL: http://z15.invisionfree.com/Shinobi__Legends/index.php
Board Description: Overall, Shinobi Legends is a fairly active Naruto RP site with a bit of a twist. Instead of starting off as a Genin as you would at other sites, you can pick your character's own rank and have up to two characters. The twist does not stop. In order to pick your character's rank for new members, it is based around your post count. This is to prevent people from creating high level ranked characters and then just leaving. It is also to prevent too many Jonin in the Bingo Book. You may customize your character by adding them to Organizations to fit our recently added plot line. We recently gave our RP a fresh start because of our plot line we applied about 3 weeks ago. We moved all threads before the plot line to a section called "RP Archives." Besides RPing, we have a vast section of anime not to mention discussion, debates, contests, and more! We just started up a new contest you can find in the news section called "Member Awards."
Specific things you would like a comment on (optional): We have been open since December of 07. (the 15th)

Strengths

• Absolutely beautiful skin. I was not surprised to see that it was created by Tue. And quite refreshing from other anime boards who tend towards the cartoonish. This skin has a definite oriental feel to it, but is classy and understated...beautiful color and creative forum markers Could just as easily support a forum about fine arts as anime.
• It looks like you have about 10 loyal long-term members and another 10 loyal newer members. A nice base, and though your forum has not grown enormously in a year and a half, it seems quite established.
• There is plenty for members to do, and recognition for those who are contributors. The community seems respectful of one another and very friendly.

Weaknesses

• The banner might look better if the side edges were faded or blended into the background. Edges are just too hard looking.
• Banner hyperlink to index page not functional. Probably not absolutely necessary since you have an index link in the menu bar, but many Invisionfree users are accustomed to that navigational device.
• Topic folders are an inferior quality and a different style and color palette from the rest of your excellent graphics.

Recommendations

• Add some space between the images on your affiliate page, it will display more attractively.
• Recommend finding a new set of topic folder images that are more linear like your forum markers and with better color integration to your skin.
• Provide a forum description for "Training Grounds"
• To help encourage those who drop by to join your forum, consider adding some points of incentive to your Welcome forum description. Sometimes it helps convince people that it's worth the few seconds to register when they would not otherwise.

As you can see, the tweaks and suggestions for improvement are fairly minor. You've done a good job with building a cohesive forum and and an appreciative community. Your decision to start a fresh plot line and add to your staff positions was a good one as it seems to have refreshed the interest of your members.

I can't really comment on your thematic material itself, as I am not familiar with what is expected to go on in anime communities...however I do see that you are making every effort to involve and motivate your community.

This is a nice forum

Thank you for the review and tips! I will try them out.